In 1991, I visited London with a friend (different from this time) and saw the musical, the Phantom of the Opera, where the cheapest seat near the ceiling was bought from a duo's scalper at four times the regular price. I have already mentioned that.
(Https://k-sako.hatenablog.com/entry/2019/08/04/210810)
And ten years later, this time I saw "the Phantom of the Opera" again at Her Majesty's Theater, but the big difference from the last time was that I was able to secure the best seats with a close view of the orchestra pit.
In 1991, I couldn't hope to read the actor's facial expressions and enjoy the singing ability, as if I was looking down on the stage at the bottom of the valley from an unstable chair with a narrow seat near the ceiling.
However, when Phantom took his beloved woman to his own dwelling deep underground in the Opera House, it had the effect of making him feel the sadness of having to live lonely in a closed world.
However, since I saw the orchestra pit seats from a place close to the stage, I could understand each of the actors' facial expressions.
And the depth of excitement felt from the gorgeousness of the costumes and the impact of the bold stage gimmicks immediately after the opening of the curtain was not comparable to the previous time.
Also, because the orchestra box was close by, I felt the tension between the conductor and the performer was lively, which was an unforgettable memory for me.
I am still very grateful for the efforts of my travel companion's partner for the acquisition of this wonderful seat.
At that time, he was assigned to the suburbs of London for about a year for the personnel of his place of employment, and he managed his busy time to meet our demands.
Photo (1) Cover of the program of the Phantom of the Gorgeous Opera.
Photo (2) A scene in which Phantom takes away a beloved woman in his own dwelling deep underground in the Opera House. Phantom's solo, which sings unfulfilled love, is wonderful.
Photo (3) The handsome face of the actor who played the Phantom of the Opera.
Photo (1)
Photo (2)
Photo (3)
１９９１年に友人（今回とは異なる）とロンドンを訪問して、二人組のダフ屋から天井に近い一番安い座席を定価の４倍の価格で買わされて、ミュージカル、オペラ座の怪人を観た事は既に述べた。
（https://k-sako.hatenablog.com/entry/2019/08/04/210810）
そして１０年後の今回、私は再びHer Majesty’s Theatreでオペラ座の怪人」を観たのだが、前回と大きく異なったのは、オーケストラ・ピットを間近に眺められる最高の座席を確保できた事だった。
１９９１年の折は天井に近い座面の狭い不安定な椅子から、谷底の舞台を見下ろす感じで、役者の表情を読み取り、歌唱力を味わうことは望めなかった。
が、Phantomがオペラ座の地下深い彼の住処に愛する女性を連れて行く場面では、閉ざされた世界で孤独に生きざるを得ない彼の哀切さを痛切に感じさせてくれる効果はあった。
しかし、やはりオーケストラ・ピット席は、舞台と水平に近い間近な場所から観たので、私は役者の表情の一つ一つが手に取るように理解できた。
そして、衣装の華やかさや、幕開き直後の大胆な舞台仕掛けのインパクトから感じる感動の深さは前回とは比較にならなかった。
また、間近にオーケストラ・ボックスが近かったので、指揮者と演奏者の間に漂う緊張感が活き活きと感じられたことも私にとっては忘れられない思い出となった。
この素晴らしい座席の入手については、旅行同行者のパートナーの努力に拠るところが大きかった事で、今でも大いに感謝している。
当時の彼は、勤務先の人事で約１年前からロンドン郊外に単身赴任していて、多忙な時間をやりくりして私達の要望に応えてくれた。
写真（1）豪華なオペラ座の怪人のプログラムの表紙。
写真（2）Phantomがオペラ座の地下深い自分の住みかに愛する女性を連れ去る場面。叶えられない愛を切々と謳い上げるPhantomのソロが素晴らしい。
写真（3）オペラ座の怪人を演じた俳優のハンサムな素顔。
